Understanding the DEEP Process

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Deregulation Evaluation of Established Pests
• A mechanism for PPQ to evaluate pests that are: 

– Quarantine at U.S. port(s) of entry (POE) but no longer 

meet the IPPC definition of a quarantine pest

• Pest is established in U.S.

• Pest is not under federal official control

What Is The Purpose Of DEEP?

• ‘Deregulation’ through DEEP means changing the pest 

status from quarantine to non-quarantine at U.S. POE
• Remove entry requirements for pests that APHIS no 

longer considers a risk

Cost savings for containing, eradicating, excluding pests

What Are The Benefits Of DEEP?

3

• Removal of unnecessary import requirements 

Harmonization of foreign and domestic requirements →

actions at U.S. POE are consistent with those taken 

domestically

Facilitation of safe and 

fair trade
1. Current port policy is quarantine for all or some of the U.S.

*a pest’s regulatory status may vary with POE policy (ex: quarantine for 

U.S. mainland, but non-quarantine for HI, PR, and/or other territories).

2. Pest is established in one or more U.S. states/territories 

where it is considered quarantine at the associated POE

3. Pest has been in the U.S. for a long period of time, usually 5 

years or more and not under official control

When Does A Pest Qualify For DEEP?

Agriotes lineatus (Lined Click Beetle)
• Evaluation by S&T-PPRA (Plant Pest Risk Analysis) 

• Analysis considers the following:

• What is the global distribution of the pest?

• What is the host range and biology of the pest?

• Where is the pest distributed in the U.S.?

• How long has the pest been in the U.S.?

• What economic/environmental damage does the pest currently 

cause in the U.S.? 

• What potential future damage may the pest cause in new areas?

• How feasible (technically, economically) is a federal 

official control program?

How Is A Pest Evaluated through DEEP?
• Provides recommendation to change the pest status from 

quarantine to non-quarantine for all or a part of the U.S., if:

• The pest does not have the potential for significant impacts, or 

• Eradication and/or containment is not feasible 

• Assesses if federal official control is warranted and 

provides justification for changing PPQ port policy

What Does The DEEP Report Do?
• APHIS no longer takes regulatory action on these pests at specified POE

– Consistent with U.S. trade policy and fulfills international agreements 

while promoting safe trade

• APHIS continues successful collaboration with the National Plant Board 

(NPB) by presenting DEEP pests for consultation twice a year 

– States may petition for a Federally Recognized State-Managed 

Phytosanitary (FRSMP) Program

• Refer to the Pests No Longer Regulated at U.S. POE for the most 

updated list of deregulated pests and their POE exceptions

What Impact Does DEEP Have?
Pests Submitted for 

DEEP consideration 

(PPRA, EDP, NIS...)

S&T-PPRA 

completes 

DEEP Reports

EDP-PER submits 

DEEP Reports for 

internal review (EDP, 

PEIP, PIM)

Pest Remains

Quarantine

EDP-PER submits DEEP reports 

to NPB/States for Consultation 

(60-day comment period)

*Includes last 5 years of POE 

interceptions for each pest

Further consultation 

with State(s) to 

address feedback

State(s) petition 

for FRSMP

PPQ CFA: EDP-PER S&T-PPRA PEIP-NIS

PPQ 

Disagrees

PPQ Agrees

NPB/States

Disagree

Pest status changes to

Non-Quarantine

NPB/States

Agree

Pest Remains

Quarantine

Start / End Decision Process

DEEP Process

Further review to 

address internal 

feedback